Bower makes impact

COSTA MESA -- Jonathan Bower had been waiting and preparing for

this day for some time. After redshirting last season and not getting

a chance to step out on the field, Bower was finally ready. A lot of

work on and off the field and now it all paid off when Bower, a

graduate of Western High School in Anaheim, debuted as the starting

catcher on opening day for the Vanguard University baseball team, the

2002 NAIA Region II champions.

It must have seemed like a perfect day for the junior receiver.

The Lions were making their first official appearance since the

postseason, on their home field against Golden State Athletic

Conference opponent California Baptist in a nonconference game. Bower

stepped up for the Lions like he was ready with all the tools to help

VU return to the playoffs. He produced in all three trips to the

plate and guided the two VU pitchers and the defense to a 6-4 win

from behind the dish.

In Bower’s first at-bat, he singled and scored the tying run, and

two innings later executed a sacrifice bunt to move a VU runner into

scoring position. Bower’s biggest blow, however, came in the bottom

of the sixth when he belted a two-run double to left field to score

the eventual winning runs.

Bower came to Vanguard last year from the community college ranks

at Fullerton College, where he was a starting catcher. The two-sport

high school athlete set a Fullerton record as a sophomore for hit by

pitches, and ranks in the school’s top 10 in putouts, assists, and

fielding percentage. Bower was a redshirt member of the VU team in

2002 and is ready to pursue a two-year career at Vanguard. He’s off

to a great start as the newest Lion of the Week.